Day 1Upon arriving in Sri Lanka transfer to Hideaway, a beautiful new plantation villa tucked away in the countryside, a relatively short drive from the airport and from Colombo. The Hideaway is a beautiful boutique house allowing you to unwind and relax in complete privacy. Evenings are magical with the flickering light of oil lamps that ring the small pond and the waft of sweet scented oil that sooths your soul. An ideal place to rest after your flight and prepare yourself for your journey through this magical island.

Day 2 & 3Travel to the Sinharaja tropical rainforest which straddles a series of mountains and ridges in the country’s wet zone, containing a number of streams, waterfalls and fresh-water springs. Spend two nights at the Rainforest Edge, a rustic style eco retreat with beautiful views over the surrounding hills. Moist and muggy, murky and mysterious, trekking through the magnificent Sinharaja, the last surviving stretch of virgin rainforest in Sri Lanka, is an experience like nothing else. From top to bottom, the forest is teeming with life whether it be gushing waterfalls, gurgling streams, ants marching, leaves rustling, leeches waiting (you’ve been warned!), crickets creaking or butterflies fluttering by. Apart from the very distinct atmosphere, which is created by this great cacophony of noise and movement, Sinharaja is particularly renowned as a hotspot for bird life. There are 140 bird species seen here during a calendar year including 34 out of 36 species endemic to Sri Lanka.

Day 4 & 5Journey to the historic city of Galle in the south where you will be spending two nights at the Galle Fort Hotel which began life as a 17th Century Dutch villa. It is now a fully restored boutique hotel offering magnificent accommodation in the heart of the Galle Fort. Several hours can be spent within the Galle Fort wandering along the narrow streets, well preserved ramparts, the lighthouse, the Dutch Reform Church, and several houses with the typical manor house style architecture with columns, courtyards, and verandas. The thick, high ramparts that protect and distinguish the Fort are today used for romantic evening strolls and convenient viewpoints to catch the sweaty action of local 'village' cricket games and the international games held in the adjacent Galle cricket stadium. There are some fine beaches just outside of the Fort including Wijeya, Unawatuna, and Hikkaduwa.

Day 6 & 7Your next destination is one of the best boutique beach properties in Sri Lanka on the west coast, Aditya, located mid-way between Galle and Hikkaduwa on a secluded stretch of beach in Rathgama. Spend three nights relaxing here, lolling by the pool and enjoying the beach. Visit nearby Hikkaduwa, an interesting coastal town with its youthful and informal feel. The town is famous for its surfing beach and also offers a variety of watersports, including diving and snorkeling.